Electrical annunciator



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No. 518,031.' Patented pri-10, 1894.

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R. L.- HUNTER. ELECTRICAL ANNUNGIATOR.

No. 518,037. Palignted Apr. 10, 1894.

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ELECTRICAL ANNUNGIATOR.

N0..518,o37. Patented Apr. 1o, 1894.

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vNTTED t STATES PATENT Ornrcn.

ROBERT L. HUNTER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRICAL ANNUNCIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,037, dated April 10, 1894.

Appncaionaearebmry13, 189s. semina, 462,196. [nomaden ifo @ZZ whom it may concern-.- g

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State\f Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Annunciators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical annunc1ators or indicators, and consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claims. In the drawings,-Figure l is an elevation 1n longitudinal section, of the indicating mechanism, and return signal bell. Fig. 2. is a cross section on` the line of Fig. l. Fig. 3 1s a front elevation of theindicating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation with the indicator face removed. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the shut off plate of the indicator. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the indicating mechanism with .the rear cover removed. Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of the push button mechanism. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same, with the casing or cover in section, and with the' button removed. Fig. 9 1s a cross sectional view of the sa1ne. Fig.

10 is a diagrammatical view, illustrating the system of wiring.

Inthis invent-ion is comprised a central ind1cating mechanism into which all the conductor wires lead from an electric battery or other source of electric energy,an d with a series of push buttons or circuit closers at the locations from which the signals proceed,and through which the circuits pass from the source of electric energy,the indicating mechanism and circuit closers being connected s'o that one complete circuit only is required from all the circuit closers or push but-tons in any one system of the indicating mechanism.

The invention also comprises a signal bell connected into thedenoting mechanism.

The main indicator mechanism consists of a'base A and casing A2, containing a main shaft A3 arranged-.to be actuated by a spring A4 through reducing gears A5, and provided with an arm A6 adapted tocome in contact with a series of springscontacts a arranged in a circle, Aas shown more clearly in Fig. 6. These spring contacts are insulated from the base A and all trend inward andl rest by their in- `b on an armature B rests to hold the shaft A3 locked and prevent it from turning.

B2 B3 represent a pair of magnets across whose cores the armature B is pivoted, as shown. The armature B is provided with an insulated extension D resting against a v contact point D2 in one of the posts D2 ofV the frame D3 in which the spring and gear mechanism is supported, the armature B audits extension D being held back by a spring D4, as shown. The shaft A7 being at the extreme outer end of the trainof gears a very slight force exerted upon the arm A8 will be sufficient to hold the spring A4 and shaft A3 stationary, while on the other hand a small attractive force exerted through the magnets B`l2 B3 will be sufficient to release the gearing and allow the shaft A3 to be revolved by the spring.

D5 is another post having anadj ustable contact screw D6 against which the extension D- comes in contact when the magnets B2 B3 are energized and the armature B- actuated, the contact screw being connected electrically to the fields of the magnets B2 B3 as shown by line e and also by wire e2, to vthe ringE containing the stop contact pins d.

A9 represents the mechanism by which the spring A4 will be wound up.

The base D3, shafts A3 A7, posts D2, spring mind that the long thin lines in the represen-v IOO tations of the batteries F F2, are intended-to denote the zinc poles, and the thicker and shorter lines, are intended to denote the carbon poles.

At some convenient point upon or in conneet-ion with the casing A is a bell mechanism, consisting of a gong G' mounted in any suitable manner and with small electro magnets G2 arranged in proximity thereto. The armature G3 ot' the magnets G2 is shown connected by an insulated spring G4 by which it is held in its outward position, and with the hammer G5 of the bell attached to the armature, as shown.

G6 is a small spring resting against an adjustable screw contact G7 connected by wire e4 to the fields of the magnets G2, the latter connected in turn by wire e5 to the insulated extension D' of the armature B', as shown. The spring contact GG is connected electrically by wire e to the zinc side of a small auxiliary battery F2, as shown in Fig. lO, the latter being in turn connected by wire c7 from its carbon side to the corresponding carbon side of the main battery F', as shown in Fig. 10. The two batteries are thus coupled, making the battery F2 a portion of the main battery, and thereby also creating a duplex current between the main battery and main magnets B2, and the magnets of the bell mechanism, as hereinafter described.

The annunciator or indicator mechanism will be placed at any convenient point, and in the system illustrated in the present application as many of the spring contacts a' are inserted as there are calls intended to be employed in the system. Two or more indicators may be coupled to enable two or more indications to be noted at the same time, but that system will be made the subject of future applications. In the device shown in the drawings sixteen of these spring contacts a' are shown, hence sixteen different indications can be noted.

Upon the outer end of the main shaft A3 is attached a face or indicator disk H', revolving with the shaft beneath the stationary face plate H2 oi. the casing A'. This revolving disk is divided into as many sections as there are contacts ct', (in the drawings sixteen,) and numbered consecutively, as shown, or otherwise denoted, as circumstances or the use for which the annunciator is employed may require.

g' is a perforation in the face plate H2 through which the gures or other notations on the disk I-I' maybe read, one at a time, as the disk is revolved beneath it. Another set of notations is shown upon the disk H', (see Fig. 4,) arranged in a circle inside the outer row, and adapted to be read one at a time through a perforation g2 through the face plate H2 as the disk is revolved. Any required number of these sets of notations may be employed, limited only by the size of the is found practical to employ. An indicator hand K may also be employed, either as an adjunct to thedisk H' or in place of 1t, as may be required.

Generally only one set of notations W1ll be employed with each indicator, but when two or more sets are employed, a shut oit plate L will be employed swiveled at L2 upon the under side of the face plate H2, so that when turned in one direction, as shown by dotted lines at 71, in Fig. 3, the perforation g2 w1ll be closed and the perforation g' open, and when turned in the opposite direction the perforar; tion g' will be closed, and the perforation gleft open. Thus either one ofthe two sets of notations may be exposed, as required. The form of this shut 0E plate is more clearly shown in Fig. 5, which represents it removed from the casing. By simply enlarging the plate L and elongating the slot g2, both perforations may be closed at the same time, which action may be found necessary when the hand K is employed in addition to the notations on the disk I-I'.

A peculiar form ot' push button is employed in connection with this system, its construction being shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.

M' represents the base and M2 the cap or cover. rlwo small magnets are attached to a cross bar M5 by their cores M4 M5, and projecting through the base M' into the open space beneath the cap M2 as shown.

M6 is the armature supported by a spring M2, and adapted to be depressed to come in contact with the cores of the magnets by a push button MS. The wire e3 from the main battery F leads into the fields of the magnets, the latter being connected by Wire c2 to the armature M6, as shown. The cores ofthe magnets are connected by wire el() and also by wire e to the contacts a' of the indicator.

In Fig. lOis shown a diagrammatic view of the Whole system to illustrate the wiring and connections. In this diagram are shown sixteen of the push buttons, denoted by the letter M2, (which represents the caps or covers, the only portions which appear to the eye,) and are supposed to be located in different rooms of a building, or in other different locations as may be required.

In Fig. 6, sixteen wires e are shown leading outward from the contacts d', and in Fig. l0 each of these wires is shown leading to one of the push buttons, being connected therein into the cores MLM5 of the magnets. The Wires es are also shown leading out from the opposite sides ot' the push buttons and coupled to a main lead wire running to the main battery F.

Vhile I have shown the gearing A5 and arm AG arranged to be actuated by a spring A4, any other suitable means, such as a weight, a small electric motor, or other power, may be substituted, if desired. The electric connections, as shown in the drawings, are from disk H', or the number of the contacts a' it l the zinc side of the battery F' by wire c2 to IIO the magnets B2 B2, thence by wire e"e2 to the ring E, thence through the pins d and spring ycontacts a', and thence by separate wires e11 to the cores M5 M4 of the push button magnets, thence by wires e2 to the armatures M6 of the push button magnets, where the convolve. with its outer end in contact with the free ends of the spring contacts a', throwing them one after the votheraway from the pins d but without affecting anything until the particular spring contact connected by one of the wires e with the particular push button which has been actuated, is released. The releasing of this particular spring contact breaks the circuit through the actuated push button `and magnets B2 B2 and permits the spring D4 of the armatureto draw the armature B outward again and cause its stop b' to again instantly lock the shaft A3, the revolution-of the shaft A3 also causing the disk I-I to revolve until the notation corresponding tothe particular spring contact a connected to the actuated push button, appears beneath the opening g', where it will remain until another push button is actuated. The moment the circuit is thus broken the'spring armature Min the push button is released and resumes its former position ready for action again. When the armature B is attracted by the closing-of the circuit by the depression of the push button, the insulated extension end D of the armature B is brought in contact with apoint D5, thus dividing the duplex currents leading from the portion F2 of the battery, and `switching the current from the portion F2 through the bell by wire c7 through the push button, spring contact a', ring E, wire e2, point D5, extension contact D', wire e5, bell magnets G2, and thence back to the auxiliary battery F2 again by wire e, thus causing the bell to be sounded every time a push button is depressed. When the indicating mechanism is at rest after the indication has been given, it' a second depression of the same push button be -made the bell will be sounded without actuating the annunciators, the current then being from the portion F2 of the battery through the contact springs a', arm A, thence through the actuating mechanism to the post D2, thence to the extension D thence by wire e5 through the bell mechanism, and thence out by Wire e6 to the battery again. During this time the current from the main battery is interrupted permanently because the contact spring a is held out of contact with the ring E, thus-keeping the annunciator mechanism out of service. After a push button has been actuated, the same push button may be depressed as many times as desired and the bell thereby sounded, but without affecting the disk H, which remains in the same position and showing the same notation through the opening g until another push b utton is depressed. After the indication is given the push button is then only in the circuit of the portion F2 of the battery, which Hows only through the bell magnets, that current being broken mechanically by the action of the bell mechanism, thereby releasing the armature of the push button at every stroke of the bell.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In an annunciator, an indicating mechanism., an electro magnet connected to a source of electric energy, a series of circuit. closers in circuit with said source of elect-ric energy and corresponding with and connected to the indications in said indicator, in combination with a signal bell mechanism connected into the indicator annunciator circuit by a separate electrical connection, whereby a duplex circuit is formed so that the signals and indications are given simultaneouslyl and the signals rendered capable of repetition without the necessity for again actuating the indicating mechanism. i 2. In an annunciator, a disk or plate having notations thereon and an arm movable therewith, a series of electric contacts corresponding to said notations and adapted to be actuated by said` arm, means for locking said arm and disk, electro magnets connected to a battery or other source of electric energy and adapted when energized to release said disk and arm, a push button for each of said contacts consisting of an electric )magnet connected separately by its fields and cores to said contacts and said source of electro energy, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an annunciator, a disk or plate having notations thereon and an arm movable therewith, a series of electric contacts corresponding to said notations and adapted to be actuated by said arm, means 'for locking said arm and disk, electro lmagnets connected to a battery or other source of electric energy and adapted when energized to release said disk and arm, a ring having pins in contact with said series of contacts and connected electrically to said electro magnets, connecting each of said contacts with said source ot' electric energy, and a series of push buttons connected between said source of electric energy and said electric contacts, said push buttons arranged to hold the circuits broken until depressed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.-

4. In an annunciator, a disk or plate having lOO IIO

notations thereon and an arm movable therewith, a series of electric contacts corresponding to said notations and adapted to be actuated by said arm, an electro magnet having an armature adapted to lock said disk and arm stationary, said magnet being connected to a battery or other source of electric energy so that when energized it will withdraw said armature and release said disk and arm, an insulated extension upon said armature con-` nected to the magnet of an electric signal bell, a contact with which said insulated eX- tension connects when said armature is attracted by the energizing of said magnets, said contact being connected electrically with said main magnet and with said series of contacts, separate electrical connection between said signal bell, battery and main magnets, and a series of push buttons interposed be tween said series of contacts and said source zo of electric energy, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an annunciator,a disk supplied wlth two or more series of notations and adapted to be revolved to designate the location from z 5 which the signal proceeds, stationary face plate having a separate opening for each series of notations, and cut off plate arranged to cover and uncover said openings so that only one is open at a time, substantially as 3o J. F. I-IoYT, C. N. WOODWARD. 

